Appeals Court Overturns New York Police Officer’s $5 Million Award

An appeals court has thrown out a $5 million verdict awarded in 2008 to a former New York City police officer who accidentally shot himself in the knee.

Anderson Alexander sued the city, claiming he accidentally shot himself in 2002 while leaning back in a faulty chair in Brooklyn’s 73rd Precinct. He retired from the force after undergoing several surgeries.

A Supreme Court justice declined to throw out the verdict despite testimony indicating there was nothing broken on the chair. The Appellate Division overruled the judge, saying there was no evidence to show the city knew the chair was defective.